Buoy



Feb. 2, 1965 J. B. KEATS 3,

BUOY

Filed Oct. 29, 1965 :5 Sheets-Sheet 1 1 mg. 1 5A 35 ATTORNEYS J. B. KEATS Feb. 2, 1965 BUOY 3 Sheets-Sheet" 2 Filed Oct. 29, 1963 a? r g ATTORNEYS Feb. 2, 1965 J. B. KEATS J 3,

BUOY

Filed Oct. 29, 1963 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 "Il a" VII/)1 INVENTOR.

J ouN B. KEATS AT TOEN EYS 7 3,1673% Patented Feb. 2, 1965 BUOY John B. Keats, Erie, Pa., assignor to Borg-Warner Corporation, Chicago, III., a corporation of Illinois Filed Oct. 29, 1963, Ser. No. 319,876

7 Claims. (Cl. 9 8) This invention relates to a buoy. An object of the present invention is to provide a buoy which will ride the surface of a body of water irrespective of any undulating movements which'may be imparted to the buoy by the waves on such surface.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a buoy, which while riding a surface of a body of water, will support a sign-supporting standard when mounted thereon in a constant upright position regardless of any undulating movements which may be imparted to the buoy by the waves on such surface.

A further object. of the present invention'is to provide a buoy which is non-corrosive, which will require practically no maintenance during itslife of use, and which is commercially practical.

Other objects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIGURE 1 is an exploded view of the buoy according to the present invention.

FIGURE 2 is an assembled view'of the buoy of FIG- URE 1 and in position of use.

FIGURE 3 is a fragmentary view, with parts broken away and in section, of the base and stabilizer of the buoy according to the present invention, but showing the weight depending from the stabilizer.

FIGURE 4 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view, with par-ts broken away, taken on the line 44 of FIG- URE 2, but showing the weight housed within the stabilizer.

' FIGURE 5 is a fragmentary plan view taken on the line s s of FIGURE 4. I I 7 FIGURE 6 is a fragmentary exploded view of a part of the one-piece standard, the socket member, and the means operatively connecting the standard part to the socket member.

FIGURE 7 is an assembled view of the exploded structure of FIGURE 6. i

FIGURE 8 is a partial assembled view of the exploded structure of FIGURE 6.

Referring to the drawings, the buoy, according to the present invention, comprises a base 10 which is fabricated wholly of a resilient material, such as rubber, natural or synthetic, or like material. The base 10 comprises a fiat bottom 12, and rising from and extending. about the perimeter of the bottom 12 is a wall 14. Also, rising from the bottom 12 is a hollow core 16 which is spaced from the wall 14, and has the upper end portion projecting above'the upper end of the wall 14. A plurality of upstanding reinforcing ribs 18 are disposed externally in spaced relation about the core 16 and slope downwardly from the core 16 toward and merge into the flat bottom 12 at the jointure point of the flat bottom 12 with the wall 14. The space between the core 16 and the wall 14 forms a chamber which is open at its top. The core 16, as will be observed in FIGURE 4, is out of communication with the chamber.

A buoyant material 20, such as foam or air balls, is

I disposed within the chamber, and this material is insertable through the open top of the chamber. Of course, the chamber may be filled with air as the buoyant material, the air becoming compressed upon closing of the chamber by a coverto be subsequently described. As shown in the drawings, the chamber is filled with compressed air.

United States Patent Ofifice A socket member 11 which is fabricated wholly of a resilient material like nylon and the like, is disposed within and is fixedly supported in the core 16, the said material being of a lesser resiliency than the base'resilient material.

A standard 9 is disposed so as to extend through the socket member 11 with a portion projecting out of and above the socket member 11 with a portion projecting out of and below the bottom 12 of the base 10.

Means is provided which operatively connects the standard 9 to the socket'member.- As shown in FIGURES l to 5, the standard 9 is in two parts, namely, an upper portion 32 serving as a flagpole, and a lower portion 45 serving as a supporting element. In the form illustrated in FIGURES 6 to 8, the standard is in .one piece, and comprises an upper portion 32 serving as a flagpole, and a lower portion 45 serving as a supporting element.

Referring to the form of FIGURES l to 5, the socket i member 11 includes a sleeve 13 and projecting outwardly from the lower end of the sleeve 13 is a flange 15. Also: projecting inwardly from theupper end of the sleeve 13 is a flange 15'. A floor 17 extends across the interior' of the flange'15' and is attached to or is integral with,

the flange 15'. A collar 19 rises from the floor '17. The

collar is provided with external threads 21, the purpose lower end of the core 16 with the sleeve engaging the core 16 and the collar 19 opening out of theupper end. It is to be noted that.

of the projecting core portion. the sleeve 13 has a plurality of ribs 13 whichproject externally therefrom and extend longitudinally along tov its lower end portion, the ribs being received in cooperat ing grooves 16 formed in the core 16, this rib and groove structure serving to hold the sleeve from rotating within the core.

A removable cover 22 closes the open top of the chamher and has the outer boundary embracingly a'nd'sealingly secured to the upper end of the wall 14, the cover being fabricated wholly of resilient material of the type of resilient material of the base 10. Specifically, the cover 22 has a depending inturned skirt 24 extending about its perimeter, FIGURE 4, which releasably' embraces a lip 26 extending about the upper end of the wall 14 and is sealingly secured to the wall 14. The cover 22 is provided with a central opening 28 which receives and extend snugly about the projecting upper end portion of the core 16 with the part of the cover constituting the wall of the opening seating upon and sealingly secured to the projecting core portion. As shown in FIGURES l to 3, the top of the cover is provided with spaced upstanding knobs, here shown three in number, the purpose of which is to support an assembly of the base 10, core 16, socket member 11, and cover 22, when superimposed thereon.

The upper portion 32 of the standard 9 serving as a flagpole is provided with means operatively connecting the portion 32 to the socket member 11. Such means comprises a coupler 34 which is conformably shaped to engage the collar 19 and surrounds and is fixedly carried by the upper portion 32 of the standard 9 serving as a flagpole, the coupler being provided with internal threads 36. The upper portion 32 of the standard 9 serving as a flagpole is disposed so that it extends in a perpendicular direction with respect to the base 11), FIG URES l and 2, with the coupler 34 engaging the collar 19. Actually, the threads 36 on the coupler 34 are in threaded engagement with the threads 21 on the collar 19. It is to be noted that the threads 36 and 21 on the coupler 34 and collar 19 respectively constitute I stabilizer 46 or shells 48.

interengagingmeans on the coupler and .collar. The

and supports a stick 37 of a flag 39,

Means operatively connects the lower portion :45 of the standardi9 servingasasupporting element to the socket-member- 11. Such means comprises :a cap 4% whichis fabricated wholly of plastic materiaL'the' cap tti having' a fiat top 41 and a skirt 42 e xtending'about and depending from the perimeter of the top d1. The cap 4} is insertablethrough the lower end of the core 16 so that the top-41 engages the. floor 17 of the socketmember 11* and the skirt 42 engages the adjacent portion of the core 16. Meansembodying' a bolt and nut assembly and indicated generally by the numeral 44- secures thetop d1 of the cap as to the floor 17 of the socket member 11,- asis clearly shown in FIGURE 4.

Extending into andengaging the top 41 of the cap 40 and fixedly and 'dependingly secured to the skirt-42' -f the cap 4i) is the lower portion 150f the standard 9 serving as a supporting element. The supporting elewhich receives upper portion 32 .of the'standard 9 comprises a hollow I pipe fabricated of plastic material, andthe upper end of the pipe 33 is closed by a plug 35 upon the lower portion 45' of the standard QIi's inserted *into the socket/member 111' until there is a part project ing out'of and beyond the bottom 12 of the base 19,-

At this point, the internal threads 36 of the coupler 34' are brought into threaded, engagement with'ithe threads 21' on the collar 191," and the threads 36" of the coupler S t/tare turned-ndownfltightly on. the threads 21'":

ofthe collar 19', rjesultingin the-gasketydd grippingly engaging the adjacent portion ofthe standard 9; and firmly holding the standard 9 in" position in the socket mem.

her 11's,,

In operation, withjthe buoy. of the" present invention as illustrated in FIGURES 2, 3 and 8, the base 10 of the buoy rides'the surface of a body of Water Aand supports the'standardin a constant upright positionregardlessrof any undulating movements; which maybe ini parted to the base bythe waves on such-surface." Also, even if the sign-supporting, standard is knocked down by a boat it willreadily rightitself as soon; as tthe baseof' 20 the buoy'is freed from the object of impact.; ,Of course,

" the flexible. lines 63 and 65 connecting the anchor 6i? ment 45takes the form of a hollow tube which is fabri-' cated wholly of plastic material and which has a portionadjacent the upper end extending into and engaging .the top dl of the-cap 4d and fixedly-and dependingly secured tothe skirt 42 of the cap 44).-

ment ortube 45 adjacent the lower end thereof, The stabilizer 4e comprises a pair-of vertically-disposed semicylindrical shells 43 each fabricated wholly .of plastic 7 material, the shells being disposed so as to face away from each other and being fixedly secured on opposite sides of the tube 45; Extending, aboutthe part of the tube 45'.between the portions adjacent the upper and lower ends thereof are a pluralityof apertures 47 for the discharge of water therethrough.

A. weighting means is operatively connected tov the stabilizer 46,, In the assembly illustrated in FIGURES 1, 2 and 4, the weighting material takes the form of a .solid metal bar or a lead bar which is housed'within and carried by the part .of the tube 45 defined by the a solid metal cylinder 52 such as a lead cylinder, the cylinder-52 being dependingly supported from an eye 54 projecting from the lowcr end of the tube 45.

I An anchor 60 is operatively connected to the base 16. In the assembly as illustrated in FIGURES 1, 2 and 4, the anchor 60'is dependingly attached to an attaching elementor split ring 61 carried'by a shank 62 fixed to the bottom 12 ofthe base by a flexible line 63. In the assembly as illustrated in FIGURES, the anchor 60, not

shown, is attached by means of a flexible line 65 to an eye dd which is dependingly carried by the cylinder 52. a With reference to the form illustrated in FIGURES ,6

to 8, this form differs over the form of ,FIGURESl to S'above described in that the standard 9' is in one.

part. and includes the upper portion 32" serving-as a flagpole and the lower portion 45 serving as a supporting.element,'the floor 17 extending across the interior of the flange of the sleeve 13 of the socket member 11 being omitted, and the coupler 34' is slidably supported on the standard 9 andserves as the means for operatively connecting the standard 9" to the socket member 11'. By virtue of thestandard 9' being in one part' v In the assembly illustrated in FIGURE '3, the weighting material takes the form of i Aystabilizer 46- is disposed 'exteriorly about and is 1- fixedly supported on the portion of the supportingeleto the cylinder SZ 'and 'baseIt} respectivebn. are: of such length .as to permit: the buoy to;rnove without restraint I to the undulating induced by the waves .on

i the surface of the body of water.

It is to, be noted; that by' virtue of the ,parts of the buoy 'of the present inventionbeing, fabricated "of the defined materialsthe buoyisnon-corrosive, requires practically no maintenance during its life of use, and is commercially practical.

Whatis claimed is: i v 1. A buoy comprising a base fabricated wholly of resilient material and including a flat bottom, a wall rising from and extending about the perimeter of "said bottom, and a hollow core rising from said bottom and spaced from said wall and having the upper portion projecting above the upper end of said Wall, the space between said core and said wall forming achamber open at its top, the core being out of communication with said chamber, a buoyant material disposed within said chamber, a removable cover fabricated wholly of resilient material of the type of said base resilient material and closing the opentop of said chamber and: having the V outer boundary embracingly and sealingly secured, to "the upper end of said wall, said cover having a central opening receiving and extending snugly {about theyprojecting upper end portion of said :core with the part of the cover constituting'the wall of said opening, seating. .upon'and sealingly secured tosaid projecting core portion, a socket member fabricated wholly of resilient material of'a lesser resiliency than said base resilient material, said socket member being disposed within and fixedlyflsupported in the upper end of the projecting core portion, a stand-' ard fabricated wholly of plastic .material and disposed so as to extend through said socket memberwith a' por-s tion'projecting out of and above said socket member and servingas a flagpole and with'a portion projecting out of and below the bottom of said base and serving as a supporting element, means operatively connecting the standard to said socket member, a stabilizer-fabrhj cated wholly of plastic material and disposed about and fixedly supported on the portiorit of said standard serviing as a supporting element, and weighting meansopera-r tive'ly connectedito said stabilizer; v V

2. vThe buoy accordingr to claim, 1 which includes in addition an anchor operatively connected tosaid. base.

3; The buoy according ,to 'claim' 1 wherein said Sta-V bilizer embodies a pair of vertically-disposed semi-cylindrical shells fa'cingwaway from each otherand fixedly disposed onvopposite sides of the portion of saidrstandard serving as a supporting element 7 4. The buoyaccording to claim 1 wherein the means operatively cormecting the standard to said socket member comprises a coupler' on the portion-of saidstandard bracing the upper part of the portion of said standard 10 serving as a supporting element, and means securing the top of said cap to the floor of said socket member.

6. The buoy according to claim 1 wherein the portion of said standard serving as a supporting element is a hollow tube, and wherein the weighting means embodies a solidmetal bar housed within and carried by. the part of the tube defined by the stabilizer.

7. The buoy accordingto claim 1 wherein the weighting means embodies a solid metal cylinder dependingly supported from the lower end of the portion ofrsaid standard serving as a supporting element.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 184,553 Smith et a1. Nov. 21, 1876 849,362 Beebe Apr. 9, 1907 1,426,337 Sperry Aug.'15, 1922 1,958,535 Elliot May 15, 1934 2,397,844 Dewhurst Apr. 2, 1946 2,819,476 Dodge Jan. 14, 1958 3,077,614 Lloyd Feb. 19, 1963 3,084,354

Lunenschloss Apr. 9, 1963 

1. A BUOY COMPRISING A BASE FABRICATED WHOLLY OF RESILIENT MATERIAL AND INCLUDING A FLAT BOTTOM, A WALL RISING FROM AND EXTENDING ABOUT THE PERIMETER OF SAID BOTTOM, AND A HOLLW CORE RISING FROM SAID BOTTOM AND SPACED FROM SAID WALL AND HAVING THE UPPER PORTION PROJECTING ABOVE THE UPPER END OF SAID WALL, THE SPACE BETWEEN SAID CORE AND SAID WALL FORMING A CHAMBER OPEN AT ITS TOP, THE CORE BEING OUT OF COMMUNICATION WITH SAID CHAMBER, A BUOYANT MATERIAL DISPOSED WITHIN SAID CHAMBER, A REMOVABLE COVER FABRICATED WHOLLY OF RESILIENT MATEIAL OF THE TYPE OF SAID BASE RESILIENT MATERIAL AND CLOSING THE OPEN TOP OF SAID CHAMBER AND HAVING THE OUTER BOUNDARY EMBRACINGLY AND SEALINGLY SECURED TO THE UPPER END OF SAID WALL, SAID COVER HAVING A CENTRAL OPENING RECEIVING AND EXTENDING SNUGLY ABOUT THE PROJECTING UPPER END PORTION OF SAID CORE WITH THE PART OF THE COVER CONSTITUTING THE WALL OF SAID OPENING SEATING UPON AND SEALINGLY SECURED TO SAID PROJECTING CORE PORTION, A SOCKET MEMBER FABRICATED WHOLLY OF RESILIENT MATERIAL OF A LESSER RESILIENCY THAN SAID BASE RESILIENT MATERIAL, SAID SOCKET MEMBER BEING DISPOSED WITHIN AND FIXEDLY SUPPORTED IN THE UPPER END OF THE PROJECTING CORE PORTION, A STANDARD FABRICATED WHOLLY OF PLASTIC MATERIAL AND DISPOSED SO AS TO EXTEND THROUGH SAID SOCKET MEMBER WITH A PORTION PROJECTING OUT OF AND ABOVE SAID SOCKET MEMBER AND SERVING AS A FLAGPOLE AND WITH A PORTION PROJECTING OUT OF AND BELOW THE BOTTOM OF SAID BASE AND SERVING AS A SUPPORTING ELEMENT, MEANS OPERATIVELY CONNECTING THE STANDARD TO SAID SOCKET MEMBER, A STABILIZER FABRICATED WHOLLY OF PLASTIC MATERIAL AND DISPOSED ABOUT AND FIXEDLY SUPPORTED ON THE PORTION OF SAID STANDARD SERVING AS A SUPPORTING ELEMENT, AND WEIGHTING MEANS OPERATIVELY CONNECTED TO SAID STABILIZER. 